Commemorate Presidents Day With White House Plumbing History
Presidents Day is more than just a day off of school or work. It is a time when the American people can learn a little more about the people who have helped guide this country. Read on to find out when indoor plumbing graced the White House, why William Taft needed a specially made bathtub, and who “The Plumbers” were.
Indoor Plumbing Comes to The White House
So when and how did indoor plumbing come to the White House? In 1833, President Andrew Jackson hired an engineer named Robert Lecki to build iron pipes that ran from a spring located in Franklin Square down to a reservoir at the White House.
While the initial plan for this running water was putting out fires, Jackson later used it to supply water for his bath. In 1853, President Millard Fillmore had the first flushing toilet installed, and in 1857 President Franklin Pierce made it a proper bathroom by adding a bathtub to the room with the flushing toilet.
William Taft’s One-of-a-Kind Bathtub
“Larger than life” is a phrase heard about those individuals whose deeds and personality seem to fill a room and go far beyond just them or their lifetime. When it came to President William Taft, he had a physical presence that also encapsulated those words. Known for his quiet manner and polite ways, William Taft was also a large man.
Taft, who was just under 6 feet tall and weighed in at just under 300 lbs at the start of his presidency and left the office at 340 lbs, maintains the title as the heaviest president in US history. Some stories circulate about how Taft regularly got stuck in his tub and could only get out with help from multiple people.
Most of these stories are thought to be highly exaggerated. However, his size and desire for comfort and ease while bathed were enough for him to have a tailor-made bathtub installed. This finished tub was over 7 feet in length, and 3 feet, five inches wide. Plenty large enough for Taft to bathe in comfort.
The Plumbers Who Weren’t Plumbers
During Richard Nixon’s term as president he, like any other President, had those trusted individuals around him who took care of his security and made sure that nothing classified was leaked. An important job, not only to keep the president safe but also to ensure national security, it also required evasiveness and a close-mouthed manner.
When one of these gentlemen in Nixon’s inner circle went home for the holidays, he had that moment that many have experienced. The moment when that grandparent, aunt, or uncle asks, “So what exactly is it that you DO?” The young man in question, David Young, simply responded, “I am helping the president stop some leaks.” His delighted grandmother replied, “Oh, you’re a plumber!”
Thus the fun nickname came into being, only to be forever tainted when “the Plumbers” took their sense of loyalty too far and became embroiled in the Watergate Scandal.
About Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing provides the best plumbing services to the greater Northfield, MN area. They provide 24-hour emergency service, affordable rates, and friendly and experienced technicians. Contact them to schedule expert plumbing service today!
